DISINFO: WADA's decision to exclude Russia from major sports events is anti-Russian hysteria
SUMMARY
WADA’s decision to exclude Russia from major sports events is anti-Russian hysteria. The exclusion of the country from all major sporting events in the next four years is part of a campaign directed against Russia. Although it cannot be denied that Russia has serious problems with doping, it is still not justified to punish Russian athletes in this way. There is reason to believe that such decisions are not about the cleanliness of world sport, but about political considerations.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russophobia in the Western countries and international organisations, including WADA in this particular case. On 25 November 2019, one of WADA's key committees has recommended that Russia face a four-year ban from global sports and new restrictions on its athletes and teams at next year’s Tokyo Olympics, subject to WADA's board review in December. WADA reinstated Russia’s anti-doping agency in 2018 but reserved the right to issue stronger punishments if Russia did not provide athletes’ testing data from the Moscow laboratory. Earlier the International Olympic Committee banned Russia from the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang in 2018 due to the systemic manipulation of anti-doping rules during the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. WADA Executive committee is composed of 12 members representing both the Olympic Movement and governments. The Executive Committee made its decision based on the recommendation of WADA’s independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC), which has considered a report from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Intelligence and Investigations Department (I&I) and findings of independent forensic experts. For background, read our analysis: The “Russophobia” Myth: Appealing to the Lowest Feelings and look at earlier disinformation cases alleging that there is no evidence that Russian athletes used doping and that Russian athletes face sanctions because of Western Russophobia and Russia’s compliance.